Blucken-Ga,
Thanks for the question. The specific info on Japan is a little more
scarce, but I hope this does the trick. I'll start with some general
market information (some construction specific) and then cover the
individual building supplies you requested as much as possible.
*GENERAL CONSTRUCTION MARKET
Wooden Building Materials, Wooden Windows, Doors and Flooring
Marketing Report(Very good stuff I think!):
Japanese External Trade Organization
http://www.jetro.go.jp/ec/e/market/jmr/034/index.html
Remodeling Japan With US Wood
http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/agexporter/2000/Feb/remodeli.htm
Building Products in Japan (paid)
Research and Markets
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?cat_id=49&report_id=54010
TITLE: IMPORTED BUILDING MATERIAL USERS SURVEY SUBJECT COUNTRY(IES
www.softwood.org/reports/JapSurvey.PDF
Market info- WARNING; some may be a bit outdated:
Japan Wrestles with Construction
(enr.com May 31, 2001)
By Dennis Normile with Tamami Shimegi in Tokyo
http://www.construction.com/NewsCenter/Headlines/ENR/20010531a.asp
"Japan?s once-proud construction industry is painfully realizing its
glory days are gone. Construction was once a pillar of the Japanese
economy, accounting for nearly a fifth of GDP and employing nearly 7
million people. But after a decade in which the economy has hovered
near zero growth, private sector spending has dropped precipitously.
And a new government promises a tougher stance toward the public works
spending that has kept a floor under the construction market."
<<The bottom line is that Japan's construction industry faces a
painful period of consolidation. HSBC?s Masuda says that some
"innovative contractors" are using information technologies to get a
handle on costs, which have previously been obscured by the
predominance of lump-sum contracts with fat risk premiums.
Contractors who learn to control costs, "will be the winning group,"
he says. With their world-class technology and new-found cost-control
skills, the survivors are likely to be tough competitors both at home
and abroad.>>
Apartment Renovation Market 1999 - Japan
Research and Markets
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?cat_id=49&report_id=35504
more reports (paid)
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/categories.asp?cat_id=49
Architectual Case Study from Japan -- includes materials and companies
used for roofing, windows and doors, among others:
Naked House ?
Case Study House 10e
Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan
Shigeru Ban Architects
http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/residential/archives/0104NakedHouse.asp
and
http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/residential/archives/0404HotM-2.asp
Top international contractors laid out in a table -- includes Japanese contractors:
Engineering News Record
top international contractors
http://enr.construction.com/people/topLists/topIntlCont/country/asiaAustralia/malasia.asp
<<Ando Corp., Tokyo, Japan BAM Groep, Bunnik, The Netherlands...
...Chiyoda Corp., Yokohama, Japan CMEC, Beijing, China Corrpro Cos....
...Hazama Corp., Tokyo, Japan Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co>>
Engineering News Record
Japan's Manufacturers Feel Order Crunch (12/23/2002)
http://enr.construction.com/products/equiptracktrends/archives/021223c.asp
"A worldwide capital-spending slowdown in October hit Japanese
equipment makers hard, with a 4.1% monthly drop in orders from
September. According to research recently released by Nikko Salomon
Smith Barney, the date reconfirms a fast-slipping GDP trend in Japan,
which is expected to deteriorate well into the second quarter of
2003."
Building Standards in Japan
http://www.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/construction/bsl.html
and
Exported Houses and the Building Standard Law of Japan
http://www.basic.or.jp/aicbh/src/aicbh04e.htm
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES IN JAPAN
http://www.wtec.org/loyola/ar93_94/ct.htm
Hong Kong's Building Materials and Hardware Industry
http://www.tdctrade.com/main/industries/t2_2_43.htm
Business Wire
April 20, 2004 Tuesday
DISTRIBUTION: High-Tech Writers; Business Editors
LENGTH: 1186 words
HEADLINE: Intuit's MRI Real Estate Solutions Launches Japanese
Product; Tailored Solution Demonstrates MRI's Commitment to
Customer-Driven Innovation
DATELINE: TOKYO, April 21, 2004
BODY:
<<MRI Real Estate Solutions (Nasdaq:INTU) today announced the release
of its core commercial property management product tailored to meet
the needs of the Japanese market.
The growth of real estate investment trusts and asset management
companies throughout Asia has increased demand for multi-lingual,
multi-currency property management solutions throughout the region,
including Japan. Therefore, MRI, a business unit of Intuit Inc.
(Nasdaq:INTU), enhanced and adapted MRI for Windows-Japan Version to
provide the tools and flexibility that Japanese property and asset
managers need to manage their real estate portfolios.
"Entering this market is further evidence of MRI's commitment to the
global marketplace," said Robert Ballou, president of MRI. "Tokyo is
home to arguably the largest office market in the world with 25
million tsubo (875 million square feet) of space. More broadly, Japan
represents 52 percent of the real estate value in Asia."
Ballou said that Japan's real estate investment market has gone
through enormous change over the last decade. "With property values
dropping by as much as 80 percent, value creation and improved
property operations have become critical. Effective tools such as MRI
for Windows-Japan Version have become necessities for property
management companies to maximize their profitability," said Ballou.
MRI's Growth in the Asian Market
MRI has considerable experience and success in the global marketplace,
with 4,500 clients in 38 countries. Committed to the Asian region as a
whole, the company has offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, with
strategic service provider alliances in both Korea and Japan.
In Japan, MRI has secured contracts with a number of companies,
including: Aetos Japan, Colliers Halifax, Jones Lang LaSalle, Nippon
Property Management, MS Building Support and Sanko Estate.>>
AFX.COM
January 7, 2004 Wednesday
SECTION: MARKETS
LENGTH: 587 words
HEADLINE: Tokyo shares outlook - Rangebound on mixed Wall St, strong yen worries
<<Matsushita Electric Works, a major producer of building materials
and lighting equipment, posted a year to November net profit of 20.4
bln yen, compared with 6.8 bln from a year earlier. For the year to
November 2004, it forecasts a net profit of 26.0 bln yen, current
profit of 52 bln and operating profit of 67 bln, on revenue of 1.29
trln.>>
Engineering News Record
U.S. Cites Japan, Taiwan for Contracting Bias, But Doesn't Impose
Penalties(enr.com April 30, 2001)
By Tom Ichniowski
http://www.construction.com/NewsCenter/Headlines/ENR/20010430d.asp
"U.S. Cites Japan, Taiwan for Contracting Bias, But Doesn't Impose
Penalties By Tom Ichniowski The U.S. Trade Representative has said
it's concerned about Japan's discriminatory procurement practices
continue to hamper U.S. design and construction firms' ability to win
contracts there, but USTR stopped short of launching an investigation
of those practices. The citation was contained in a report that USTR
released on April 30."
Bad news for the Japanese construction market (article concludes
China's growth will be really strong, by the way):
CONSTRUCTION ECONOMICS
Risks and Rewards (6/30/2003 Issue)
New Global Spending Forecast Highlights 55 leading nations will spend
$4 trillion this year, more in the future
By Gary J. Tulacz
http://enr.construction.com/features/bizlabor/archives/030630g.asp
<<Japan remains second in 2003 spending, but its short- and long-term
growth prospects are the worst among the study's top 15 nations.
"Asia, except for Japan, is poised for real strong growth over the
next five years," says Holling.>>
Not Japan-specific, but I thought you may find this interesting:
In a Slow International Market, Upstream Oil Jobs Fuel Projects
enr.construction.com - 5/20/02 issue)
By Gary J. Tulacz
http://www.construction.com/NewsCenter/Headlines/ENR/20020517c.asp
Architectural Record
March, 1993
SECTION: PACIFIC RIM; Practice; Pg. 11
LENGTH: 222 words
HEADLINE: Specification Practices by Country: Japan
<<Japanese specifications differ substantially from U.S. specs largely
because construction practices in general differ. Japan's
sophisticated construction industry is dominated by design/build
firms, some of which have staffs of thousands that include architects,
engineers, and construction crews. Typically, building owners and
developers have close and long-standing relationships with one or
several of these general contracting companies.
With design and construction often the job of a single firm and with
architects and contractors sharing, in San Francisco architect Piero
Patri's words, a mutual understanding about how you build" Japanese
specifications are notably succinct. According to KMD's Green, Where
we will describe a product in detail methods of attachment,
installation, and so on they might simply say, for example, built-up
roofing,' and leave it at that." Green added, however, that Japanese
construction drawings are not brief. Much of what we put in the spec,
they put in the drawing."
Architect Rafael Pelli of Cesar Pelli & Associates, which is currently
working on a hotel in Japan, notes another difference between U.S. and
Japanese practice. Japanese specs don't have to include every
intention and alternative, because they do more design in the
construction phase than we do."
http://www.archrecord.com
Architectural Record
March, 1993
SECTION: PACIFIC RIM; Practice; Pg. 11
LENGTH: 222 words
HEADLINE: Specification Practices by Country: Japan
<<Japanese specifications differ substantially from U.S. specs largely
because construction practices in general differ. Japan's
sophisticated construction industry is dominated by design/build
firms, some of which have staffs of thousands that include architects,
engineers, and construction crews. Typically, building owners and
developers have close and long-standing relationships with one or
several of these general contracting companies.
With design and construction often the job of a single firm and with
architects and contractors sharing, in San Francisco architect Piero
Patri's words, a mutual understanding about how you build" Japanese
specifications are notably succinct. According to KMD's Green, Where
we will describe a product in detail methods of attachment,
installation, and so on they might simply say, for example, built-up
roofing,' and leave it at that." Green added, however, that Japanese
construction drawings are not brief. Much of what we put in the spec,
they put in the drawing."
Architect Rafael Pelli of Cesar Pelli & Associates, which is currently
working on a hotel in Japan, notes another difference between U.S. and
Japanese practice. Japanese specs don't have to include every
intention and alternative, because they do more design in the
construction phase than we do."
URL: http://www.archrecord.com>>
Architectural Record
October, 1996
SECTION: MANUFACTURERS' SOURCES; Pg. 118
<<Pages 88-93 Tokyo Church of Christ Tokyo, Japan Maki and Associates,
Architecture and Planning, Architects Steel-truss curtain wall:
fabricated by Hagiura Kogyo. Sash: Nihon Steel. Fiberglass-interlayer
shoji glass, frit glass, and vision glazing: Figla Company, Ltd.
Chandelier fixtures: custom design by Maki & Associates, fabricated by
Yamagiwa.>>
TTJ - Timber & Wood Products
July 12, 2003
SECTION: Vol. 406, No. 6494; Pg. 10; ISSN: 1463-032X
<<THE EFFORTS OF GREENPEACE and other environmental lobby groups have
ensured a higher profile for hardwood plywood recently. However,
latest evidence suggests that a large proportion of the UK market
still leans towards the best price on offer rather than, for example,
towards FSC accreditation. "We are getting a lot more enquiries for
FSC material," noted one trader, "but the higher prices are still
putting people off."
The decision by most Far East mills to hold firm on their own prices
can be attributed to a number of factors, including the imminent
arrival of the rainy season, the ongoing struggle with big quality and
relatively good demand from some of their markets, most notably Japan.
The Indo 96 list price is said to be occupying a reasonably broad
range between -22 and -26.>>
<<SUMMARY
* There is a lull in plywood shipments.
* Purchasing levels on mainland Europe are below normal for the time of year.
* Finnish birch plywood producers are facing increased competition
from the Baltics and Russia.
* The Continent is seen to view the UK as a place to dump its OSB.>>
Asia Pulse
February 26, 2003 Wednesday
SECTION: Northern Territory Regional
LENGTH: 1336 words
HEADLINE: PROFILE - JAPAN'S REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY (FEBRUARY 2003)
<<Japan's real estate industry remains sluggish on the weak demand
amid deteriorating employment situation and lowered income, and the
housing market is unlikely to show signs of recovery anytime soon,
despite the government's effort.
In 2002, housing starts totaled 1,151,016 units, down 1.9 per cent
from a year earlier, marking the second consecutive year of drop,
according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The
lowest-ever figure since 1983 declined 30 per cent compared with the
peak set in 1990, with houses and condominiums for sale falling 4.4
per cent to 323,942 units.
The downtrend was attributed mainly to real estate companies'
reluctance in construction, seeing the excess supply of condos in
large cities, which was caused by a rush to build for the past several
years. Privately owned housing starts dropped 4.9 per cent year on
year to 367,974 units, a 38-year low, while rental houses rose 2.7 per
cent.
Sales of condos posted 169,790 units in 2002, up 0.9 per cent from the
previous year, with sales in the Kinki region increasing 6.6 per cent
to 39,087 units and the Tokyo area seeing a 0.8 per cent dip at 88,516
units, which indicates an end to a boom, according to Real Estate
Economic Institute Co.
The trend was carried over into 2003, with sales of condos in the
Tokyo area sank 2.8 per cent from the previous year to 3,327 units in
January, while the contract rate was 70.4 per cent, the company said.
Meanwhile, the vacancy rate for office buildings are rising in the
Tokyo area, hurt by a massive supply combined with contracted demand
for offices from companies amid the deepening economic slump. In line
with the trend, rents are declining.>>
<<KEY INDICATORS
Housing starts (units) --------------------------------------------------------
1993 .... 1,509,787
1994 .... 1,560,620
1995 .... 1,484,652
1996 .... 1,630,378
1997 .... 1,341,347
1998 .... 1,179,536
1999 .... 1,226,207
2000 .... 1,213,157
2001 .... 1,173,170
2002 .... 1,151,016 >>
ASIA PULSE
July 26, 2000
SECTION: Nationwide Financial News
LENGTH: 203 words
HEADLINE: JAPAN S SEKISUI HOUSE TO ABSORB MARKETING UNITS TO LIFT SALES
DATELINE: TOKYO, July 26
BODY:
<<Sekisui House Ltd. (1928) will integrate and absorb four of its
marketing affiliates on February 1, 2001, in an effort to boost its
direct sales network, the company announced Tuesday.
The takeover will give Japan's largest home builder over 300 directly
run sales centers nationwide.
Sekisui House Hokuriku Co. (1831), in Ishikawa Prefecture, and three
other affiliates based in Kagawa, Yamanashi and Shimane prefectures
will be absorbed. Sekisui House held stakes ranging from 32.4 percent
to 51.7 percent in the companies as of January 2000.
The home builder plans to boost sales in the regions where the four
affiliates operate in an attempt to lift its share of the domestic
housing market to 10 percent. At present, the firm commands a 6
percent share in areas where it sells housing directly, while the four
affiliates hold about 4 percent of their local markets.
In the year ended January, Sekisui House recorded sales of 1.22
trillion yen (US$ 11.184 billion) and the four firms booked sales of
38.4 billion yen combined.
Sekisui House will take on 530 employees from the four companies and
plans to increase sales staff, while making cuts in administration.>>
Philadelphia Inquirer
February 1, 2004, Sunday
KR-ACC-NO: PH-HOME-DESIGN
LENGTH: 1251 words
HEADLINE: Concrete-Formed Loft Design Takes Center Stage at Las Vegas Home Expo
BYLINE: By Alan J. Heavens
BODY:
<<LAS VEGAS -- That this year's New American Home concept was the idea
of a Dutch architectural consultant didn't escape the notice of a
Japanese journalist, who wondered aloud at a news conference here how
the loft-style house could be even considered American.
At first, architect W.A. "Lex" van Straten appeared surprised by the
comment, but he quickly recovered.
"I was invited to show plans and ideas," said van Straten, a principal
of Food for Buildings in Den Haag, Netherlands, with absolutely no
change in his solemn expression and with no defensive tone of voice.
He acknowledged that the layout of the house was "atypical for
American homes," and that a "well-designed house reflects European
roots, but should never be an imitation of something else."
"Anyway, building is the same everywhere," he said. "What we do is
take materials and build shelter for people. We have been doing that
forever."
The truth is, of course, that most American architectural styles have
their origins in Europe: the Dutch colonial, for example, and the
bungalow, which traveled from British-ruled India through England
before it made its way across the Atlantic.
Van Straten's loft is both European and American, a denizen of older
cities such as Philadelphia and Chicago, where empty warehouses and
factories have been turned into high-volume, typically funky spaces
with exposed ductwork that young professionals have been finding much
to their liking for the last 25 years.>>
Small house trend:
Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)
July 1, 2003
LENGTH: 3091 words
HEADLINE: LITTLE HOUSES IN A BIG CITY
BYLINE: Imamura Souhei
<<The "Nagaya in Sumiyoshi" - a small and curiously linear 14m deep
concrete house with a 3.5m wide frontage - is the work that brought
prominence to Ando Tadao, now the most famous Japanese architect in
the world. The nagaya (row house) is the traditional form of urban
housing in Japan dating back several hundred years. It is, like the
Ando house, a long narrow building facing the inner plot of land with
only a small section facing the road. As a result, like the
traditional nagaya, the Ando house also has an extremely simple
frontage. Only an 80cm wide by 2.3m high opening cut into a 6m high,
3.5m wide concrete wall is visible from the road. Its appearance is
like a minimalist Donald Judd sculpture. The nagaya has no external
garden and is built close to neighboring homes. At the time it was
built, the "Nagaya in Sumiyoshi" was the only concrete wall in the
middle of a street lined with traditional wooden houses, making it
stand out like an alien. At the same time, it was also like a modern
art collage. The long, narrow house has a roofless internal courtyard
that takes up the full width of the building. Because people have to
pass through the open courtyard when moving from room to room, its
reputation as a "house where people have to use an umbrella to go to
the toilet (when it is raining)" also made it famous. This extremely
small house, which made use of concrete as a modern building material,
highlighted Ando's talent as an architect. Therefore it is viewed as
his debut work, and it is still considered one of his masterpieces
even after he became a great architect. The occupants have lived
happily for many years in what appears to be a very difficult house to
live in. The house's seemingly reckless design is often cited when
illustrating the architect's fierce individuality. It is certainly a
house that could not have been created by anyone except Ando. However,
it is also arguable that the "Nagaya in Sumiyoshi" directly reflects
the character of Japanese cities. Although the individuality of Ando
was essential, this kind of house probably could not have been
conceived in a European or American city, nor would it have been
accepted by society. Ando called the house "Nagaya in Sumiyoshi," but
as I explained earlier, the nagaya has been the wisdom for communal
housing in Japan for several hundred years. It could be argued that it
was Ando's interpretation of the nagaya using modern techniques that
earned the house praise.
Tokyo is one of the world's leading major cities with a population
numbering several tens of millions. There is something in Tokyo that
sets it apart from the many other cities in Japan, in both quality and
quantity. In Tokyo, there are many small houses. The existence of so
many detached houses in a major city the size of Tokyo is unparalleled
throughout the world. In London, Paris and New York, living in the
center of the city means living in collective housing, or, in other
words, apartments.>>
<<On the other hand, looking at the boom in small houses from the
design side of the architect, current demand for construction from
both the public and private sectors has slumped due to the prolonged
economic recession, leaving architects to express their abilities in
residential work. This has become the architect's last bastion. For
younger architects in their thirties and forties, small houses are
their arena of professional activity, and they have actually produced
a succession of creative works.
The Japanese design world is quite unique compared to other countries
because it has consistently produced breakthroughs in the residential
area since the postwar era. As shown above, there has been hardly any
demand for new detached houses in the cities outside of Japan. The
majority of houses featured in magazines are built in the suburbs, and
many of them are weekend houses rather than a principal residence.
Meanwhile, it is the norm in Japan for architects to begin their
careers in residential design. For example, Ando Tadao and Ito Toyoo,
who are both now active on the global stage, only had the opportunity
to design houses for the first 10 years of their careers, and the same
is true for other architects. Moreover, public sector construction in
Japan is clearly based on an architect's record with commissions
finally coming when the architect reaches his or her 50s. The
situation is significantly different from countries such as the
Netherlands, where architects can handle public sector design as soon
as they set up their businesses. Without opportunities to fully
utilize their excess energy and talents, young Japanese architects
concentrate their skills on small houses. It is a society that
tolerates many variegated forms of expression, and with the
sophistication of Japan's construction technology, it has led to the
appearance of creative houses that are inconceivable in other
countries.>>
Kazuhisa Takabatake 2000
A report on the housing market in Japan, a comparison of US and
Japanese home costs, info on export costs and materials.
Relationship Marketing in Japan: the buyer-supplier relationships
between 4 automakers
from The Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing Vol 14 No 2 1999.
Although this report is geared more towards auto manufacturers, the
information on the buyer-supplier relationships is interesting and
valuable and provides a lot of insight into how the market works over
there and how to form good rapports with suppliers.
http://www.apmforum.com/japanauto.pdf
An article on Japanese efficiency with industry statistics.
http://solstice.crest.org/repp_pubs/articles/issuebr14/06Japan.htm
From the Venture Development Corporation June 1997
An article on Japanese suppliers and market domination.
http://www.vdc-corp.com/components/press/archives/97/pr97-19.html
AFX.COM
April 21, 2004 Wednesday
SECTION: MARKETS
LENGTH: 591 words
HEADLINE: Tokyo shares outlook - Mixed on Wall St, Greenspan comments, yen easing
DATELINE: TOKYO
BODY:
<<Share prices are expected to open mixed, in part reflecting Wall
Street's weakness due to interest rate hike fears after Federal
Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's remarks, which in turn may support
the dollar against the yen, benefiting Japanese exporters, dealers
said.
Investors are also keen to see the trade statistics for March,
which are due to be released ten minutes before trade begins.
The dollar was trading at 108.93 yen an hour before equity trading
was due to begin.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrials Average ended down 123.35
points, or 1.2 pct, at 10,314.50.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed down 41.80 points, or 2.1
pct, at 1,978.63.
In Chicago, the Nikkei futures contract closed at 11,875, down
from 11,970 at close of trade in Osaka yesterday.
Yesterday, the blue-chip Nikkei 225 index closed up 188.05 points
or 1.6 pct at 11,952.26, the highest close since April 14.
The following developments could influence trading today:
-- Mitsubishi Motors Corp has decided to sell all of its
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp shareholdings to Mitsubishi Corp, the
Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, without citing sources.
-- Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd said it has decided to delay the
Pogo gold mine project in Alaska, jointly under study with Sumitomo
Corp of Japan and Teck Cominco of Canada.
-- Kyowa Exeo Corp, a general construction contractor mainly
dealing in telecom and electric facilities, said it has decided to
take majority control of Wako Engineering Corp, by buying up its
outstanding shares on the open market.
-- Japanese convenience store sales, on a same-store basis, fell
1.5 pct year-on-year in March and for the 13th month in a row, the
Japan Franchise>>
PR Newswire
April 21, 2004, Wednesday
SECTION: FINANCIAL NEWS
DISTRIBUTION: TO BUSINESS EDITOR
LENGTH: 1227 words
HEADLINE: Business in Asia Today --April 21, 2004
<<TOKYO STEEL'S PARENT-ONLY PRETAX PROFIT UP 400 PCT IN FY03
TOKYO - Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co. (TSE:5423) said that its
parent-only pretax profit jumped fivefold to 13.2 billion yen
(US$121.3 million) in fiscal 2003. The company attributed its pretax
profit growth to price hikes and strong exports of high-margin
products to Asia. Its sales rose 17 per cent to 152 billion yen, while
operating profit surged ninefold to 12.3 billion yen. Although steel
sales volume dipped 7 per cent because the firm cut production by 30
per cent beginning in November due to raw materials shortages, a 26
per cent price increase was more than enough to lift its revenue.>>
From -- A Short Course in International Marketing Blunders: Mistakes
Made by Companies that Should Have Known Better
by Michael D. White
World Trade Press © 2002
<<Chapter 6: Japan: A World Unto Itself
Overview
A MOST MISUNDERSTOOD MARKET
Few countries "have been more copiously described than Japan, and
perhaps few have been less thoroughly understood." So stated Edwin
Reischauer, the noted academic, historian, and former US ambassador to
Japan, in writing many years ago about the relationship between Japan
and the rest of the world.
The United States and Japan have each subconsciously cultivated a
sophisticated form of protectionism. Each has, in its own way, fended
off the other even though?despite their checkered histories?they rely
heavily on one another politically and economically.
Japan is much maligned in the United States as a totally closed export
market where it's virtually impossible for any US-based company to
succeed. This perspective persists despite the fact that Japan is
currently the third largest market in the world for American-made
products and has historically run a trade surplus with virtually ever
country it does business with, not just the US.
On the other side of the coin, Japanese insularity and cultural
arrogance has many subtle, and exasperating, forms. For traders,
perhaps the most obvious are the country's convoluted distribution
system and continuation of an almost feudal concept of society that
unnecessarily complicates the internal processes involved in
facilitating foreign commerce. While blame abounds on both sides of
the Pacific, Japan remains a mystery to many Americans, as does
America to many Japanese. In a sense, our mutual pasts tend to cloud
our future excessively. The results, in their turn, are often
outrageously amusing and profoundly vexing.>>
<<The basic rule of thumb on doing business in Japan," says Los
Angeles-based Japan business consultant Mike Moretti, "rests on three
basic things? patience, perseverance, and commitment." Without those
three qualities, he says, "any attempt to get into the Japanese market
is doomed to fail. A marketing plan can appear to cover all the bases,
but unless the Japanese see that these attitudes underline the
relationship, whatever you plan just won't work there."
For a business to develop over the long term in Japan, it needs
patience in dealing in an unfamiliar business setting, perseverance in
cultivating strong relationships with both business partners and
customers, and the commitment of resources (time, money, and people).
These precepts, if adhered to, might lead to success. To ignore these
tenets will surely break any deal in the highly competitive Japanese
market.>>
Useful info and cotacts:
from -- Dictionary of International Trade, 5th Edition
by Edward G. Hinkelman
World Trade Press © 2002
<<Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
(Japan) Japan's official provider of export credits. Address: Japan
Bank for International Cooperation, 4-1, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100- 8144, Japan; Tel: [81] (3) 3287-9101; Telex: 23728; Fax:
[81] (3) 3287-9539; Web: www.jbic.go.jp.
Japan, Development Bank of (DBJ)
(Japan) The Development Bank of Japan was founded in 1951 to aid in
developing and diversifying the Japanese economy. The DBJ is a
non-profit organization owned entirely by the Japanese Government.
U.S. companies may participate in DBJ funding activity under the
Bank's Loan Division in the International Department. The
International Department disburses loans to foreign companies under
two primary loan programs: Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in
Japan and Facilities for Import Products. The other loan programs of
DBJ are also available to foreign-owned companies under the principle
of equal treatment of clients regardless of nationality. Contact:
Development Bank of Japan; 9- 1, 1-chome, Otemachi; Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
100- 0004, Japan; Tel: [81] (3) 3244-1900; Web: www.dbj.go.jp (in
Japanese)
Japan Export Information Center (JEIC)
(U.S.) Provides information on doing business in Japan, market entry
alternatives, market information and research, product standards and
testing requirements, tariffs and non-tariff barriers. The Center
maintains a commercial library and participates in private- and
government-sponsored seminars on doing business in Japan. JEIC is
operated by the International Trade Administration of the U.S.
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20230 USA; Tel: [1] (202) 482-2425 and [1] (202)
482-4524; Fax: [1] (202) 482-0469;
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
(Japan) Although legally under the aegis of the Ministry of
International Trade and Industry (MITI), JETRO administers the export
programs of the Japanese Government independently. The MITI subsidizes
about 60 percent of JETRO's total annual expenditures and,
technically, has final decision- making authority over JETRO
management and programs. Originally established to help Japanese firms
export, JETRO also assists American companies seeking to export to
Japan and promotes Japanese direct investment in the United States and
U.S. direct investment in Japan. JETRO offices in the U.S. have
excellent trade libraries open to the public. There are seven branches
throughout the U.S. Headquarters are in Tokyo: Japan External Trade
Organization, 2- 5 Toranomon, 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan;
Tel: [81] (3) 3582-5522; New York branch Tel:[1] (212) 997-0400; San
Francisco branch Tel: [1] (415) 392-1333; Fax: (415) 788-6927; Web:
www.jetro.go.jp.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Established in August 1974 to administer the bilateral grant portion
of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA). JICA covers both:
(1) grant aid cooperation (offered without the obligation of
repayment) and (2) technical cooperation (offering trainees, experts,
equipment, project-type technical cooperation, and development
studies). Address: Japan International Cooperation Agency, 6-13F,
Shin- juku Maynds Tower, 1-1, Yoyogi 2-chome, Shibuyaku, Tokyo 151;
Tel: [81] (3) 5352-5311; Web: www.jica.go.jp.>>
ECONOMIC DATA:
The tables below provide a snapshot of the business climate in Japan
by identifying specific regulations and policies that encourage or
discourage investment, productivity, and growth. Key indicators are
used to help measure the ease or difficulty of operating a business:
starting a business, hiring and firing workers, enforcing contracts,
getting credit, and closing a business:
World Bank
http://rru.worldbank.org/DoingBusiness/SnapshotReports/Country.aspx?regionid=98
<<Starting a Business (2003)
The challenges of launching a business in Japan are shown below
through four measures: procedures required to establish a business,
the associated time and cost, and the minimum capital requirement.
Entrepreneurs can expect to go through 11 steps to launch a business
over 31 days on average, at a cost equal to 10.5% of gross national
income (GNI) per capita. They must deposit at least 71.3% of GNI per
capita in a bank to obtain a business registration number, compared
with the regional average of 61.2% of GNI and the OECD average of
61.2% of GNI.
Indicator Japan Regional
Average OECD
Average
Number of procedures 11 6 6
Duration (days) 31 30 30
Cost (% of GNI per capita) 10.5 10.2 10.2
Min. Capital (% of GNI per capita) 71.3 61.2 61.2
Click here for more detailed data on Starting a Business in Japan.
See the methodology for description of indicators.
Hiring & Firing Workers (2003)
The flexibility or rigidity of labor regulations and laws in Japan is
shown below, using three indices. Conditions covered by the indices
include: availability of part-time and fixed-term contracts, working
time requirements, minimum wage laws, and minimum conditions of
employment. Each index assigns values between 0 and 100, with higher
values representing more rigid regulations. The overall Employment
Laws Index is an average of the three indices. For Japan, the overall
index is 37, compared with the regional index of 45 and OECD average
of 45.
Indicator Japan Regional
Average OECD
Average
Flexibility of Hiring Index 39 49 49
Conditions of Employment Index 64 58 58
Flexibility of Firing Index 9 28 28
Employment Laws Index 37 45 45
Click here for more detailed data on Hiring & Firing Workers in Japan.
See the methodology for description of indicators.
Enforcing Contracts (2003)
The ease or difficulty of enforcing commercial contracts in Japan is
measured below, using three indicators: the number of procedures
counted from the moment the plaintiff files a lawsuit until actual
payment, the associated time, and the cost (in court and attorney
fees). An overall index of the procedural complexity of contract
enforcement is calculated by averaging four sub-indices related to
dispute resolution. The index varies from 0 to 100, with higher values
indicating more complexity in enforcing a contract. The Procedural
Complexity Index for Japan is 39, compared with the regional average
of 49 and the OECD average of 49.
Indicator Japan Regional
Average OECD
Average
Number of procedures 16 18 18
Duration (days) 60 213 213
Cost (% GNI per capita) 6.4 7.1 7.1
Procedural Complexity Index 39 49 49
Click here for more detailed data on Enforcing Contracts in Japan.
See the methodology for description of index components.
Getting Credit (2003)
Two sets of measures on getting credit in Japan are constructed:
indicators on credit information sharing and an indicator of the legal
protection of creditor rights. A Public Credit Registry Index covers
credit information coverage, distribution, access and quality for
public registries. The index ranges from 0 to 100. Higher values
indicate that the rules are better designed to support credit
transactions. Japan has a value of 0, compared with the regional
average of 58 and the OECD average of 58. For private credit
registries, a coverage indicator is reported. An indicator of creditor
rights in insolvency is also provided. A minimum score of 0 represents
weak creditor rights and a maximum score of 4 represents strong
creditor rights.
Japan has a score of 2, compared with the regional average of 1 and
the OECD average of 1.
Indicator Japan Regional
Average OECD
Average
Public Credit Registry operates? No
Year Public Credit Registry established ..
Public Credit Registry coverage
(borrowers per 1000 capita) 0 43.2 43.2
Public Credit Registry Index 0 58 58
Private Credit Bureau operates? Yes
Private Bureau coverage
(borrowers per 1000 capita) 777 443.5 443.5
Creditor Rights Index 2 1 1
Click here for more detailed data on Getting Credit in Japan.
See the methodology for description of indicators.
Closing a Business (2003)
The ability of courts to resolve insolvencies in Japan is shown below.
A Goals of Insolvency Index is calculated by averaging the cost and
time associated with resolving an insolvency, the observance of
absolute priority of claims, and the outcome (reorganizing viable
companies and closing down unviable ones, for example). The Goals of
Insolvency Index ranges from 0 to 100. Higher values indicate a more
efficient insolvency system. The Goals of Insolvency Index for Japan
is 93, compared with the regional average of 77 and the OECD average
of 77. An indicator of the power of the courts during the insolvency
process is also provided. A higher value indicates more court
involvement in the process, usually an impediment to insolvency
resolution. Japan has a value of 33, compared with the regional values
of 36 and the OECD average of 36.
Indicator Japan Regional
Average OECD
Average
Actual time (in years) 0.6 1.8 1.8
Actual cost (% of estate) 4 7 7
Goals of Insolvency Index 93 77 77
Court Powers Index 33 36 36
Click here for more detailed data on Closing a Business in Japan.
See the methodology for description of indicators.
Economy Characteristics
Variable Japan Regional
Average OECD
Average
Region OECD: High income
Income category High income: OECD
Legal origin German
GNI per capita (US$) 33,550 23,135 23,135
Informal economy (% GNI) 11.3 16.8 16.8
Population 127,034,880 41,068,094 41,068,094
See the methodology for description of variables. Variables
classifications and data are based on different years, as noted in the
methodology.>>
*ROOFING
Global News Wire (LexisNexis)
Copyright 2000 United States Dept of Commerce.
International Market Insight Reports
June 23, 2000
"A recent survey of builders and architects conducted by the Japan
External Trade Organization (JETRO) Housing Materials Center in Osaka
showed that consumer demand is a key factor in builders' decisions to
use imported building materials. The most common reason given for
using imported materials was "client demand," indicating new
homebuyers' continuing affinity for American and other imported
housing. Well over one-third of builders questioned replied that they
had used imported materials in traditional post and beam housing, and
more than 20% had used imported products on remodeling jobs. Builders
noted that shorter delivery times, better after-sales service,
Japanese language catalogs and installation manuals would mean better
sales for overseas suppliers."
"The survey results indicate that Japanese home owners as well as home
builders are interested in imported building materials and that the
United States is the largest supplier of those materials. In addition
to the strong interest in U.S. residential building products, the
Japanese housing market seemed to hit bottom in early 1999 and will
likely continue to recover slowly but steadily in 2000. In order to
provide U.S. building product manufacturers and suppliers with an
inexpensive trade promotion opportunity, the Commercial Service (CS)
Osaka-Kobe is organizing a trade mission for American building
materials manufacturers to take place in mid-April in Osaka, Okayama,
Hiroshima, Matsuyama and Takamatsu. Please see Section 5 for
additional information on "American Housing Mission 2000" and Section
6 for other CS programs."
Architectural Record
January, 1997
SECTION: PROJECTS; Pg. 64
LENGTH: 2539 words
HEADLINE: PROJECT DIARY: Steven Holl's MAKUHARI HOUSING COMPLEX is his
biggest project, and biggest struggle as an architect, to date
<<Makuhari is a new town, and like other such communities outside of
overdeveloped Tokyo, it's built on landfill -- a dredged parcel at the
rim of Tokyo Bay to the southeast of the city's downtown. The urban
planners of the residential portion of the town were dissatisfied with
existing models of ''social housing'' and sought to create something
distinct in Makuhari. The planning group, which includes on its board
Koichi Sone of Environmental Design Associates, studied
pedestrian-scale European and American models ranging from the
International Building Exhibition, known as IBA, in Berlin, to the
Olympic Village in Barcelona, and Battery Park City in Manhattan.
Based on these precedents, the Makuhari planners established rules for
building heights and setbacks, mandated tree-lined streets, ordered a
mix of commercial and residential use, and required that each city
block -- the unit of development -- be designed by three or four
different architects in order to guarantee variety. The idea was to
''add an international image'' to the existing business center of the
town, which includes a massive exhibition hall designed by Fumihiko
Maki, according to Sone. Maki's Makuhari Messe is meant to compete
with Rafael Violy's newly-completed and more lavish Tokyo Forum for
international trade shows and conventions. Like the Forum competition
organizers, the residential planning board agreed to look outside
Japan for some of its architects. ''[The board] chose a non-Japanese
prototype for the town. It was better to invite those familiar with
the type,'' explains Sone of the decision. While the board was worldly
in its outlook, the developers competing for parcels to build on had
their own goals, the primary one being financial. Says Junichi Kogo,
deputy branch manager of Mitsui Fudosan: ''We always start from
profit.''>>
<<The biggest controversy came over the exterior corridors between
apartments, which are within the building envelope. According to the
Chiba city planning department, which grants building permits, the
floor area of the corridors had to be included in the floor area of
the apartments, reducing the overall amount of livable space and
forcing an unacceptable price per square foot from the client's point
of view. Holl had not interpreted the code to say so, and, in fact,
the code only implied this requirement. But in similar projects by
Japanese architects the implication had become de facto law. Holl
pointed out that the corridor was actually meant to satisfy
fire-department egress requirements. The fire department refused to
approve it on such grounds and bounced the decision back to the city
planning department, where Enomoto of Kajima Design argued Holl's case
over a two-month period. Eventually Enomoto was able to gain approval
from the officials by making a large-scale sectional model of the
passageway that convincingly demonstrated the degree of openness of
the corridors.
Enomoto jokingly calls this difference of opinion between Holl and
Japanese city planning officials ''the invisible trade barrier,'' an
epithet that goes to the heart of the cultural differences at work.
How much of a suggested guideline is accepted and how much is
questioned and upon whose authority? For an outsider, the answer is
different. It also hints at a larger issue. While trade restrictions
between Japan and the U.S. are the subject of on-going debate among
politicians on both sides, giving American architects jobs in Japan
are token offerings that are relatively inexpensive at current
exchange rates.>>
FLOORING:
Building Stones and Ceramic Tile Marketting Report (GOOD STUFF!!)
Japanese External Trade Organization
http://www.jetro.go.jp/ec/e/market/jmr/001/index.html
An article on the Japanese market for wood flooring
Wahl, Cohen, Kozak and Gaston, May 1999.
http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/cbom/articles/thejapanesemarketforwoodflooring.pdf
The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri
February 12, 2000 (LexisNexis)
<<He believes people must be able live comfortably. In Furihata's
case, the architect advised adding a gadget that makes it easier to
open and close high windows. However, there was one point on which the
architect would not budge--the house had to keep its two tatami rooms
and the sliding doors that connect them. When his client proposed
replacing the mats with wooden flooring, the architect sternly
refused. He sees tatami rooms as a very important element of authentic
Japanese houses. "Without a tatami room, how would they manage formal
occasions or treat important guests? There must be a tatami room to
greet guests in an appropriate manner.>>
SIDING:
Knobias.com
This content is provided to LexisNexis by Comtex News Network, Inc.
September 2, 2003 Tuesday
<<Kubota LTD (NYSE : KUB) filed a 6-K on 9/2, in which the Company
reported that it and Matsushita Denko have reached a basic agreement
to integrate their businesses of roofing materials and siding
materials and jointly establish a company on equal terms.
Both Kubota and Matsushita Denko will integrate their business
operations of roofing materials and siding materials into a jointly
established company.
The objective of the business integration is to establish a leading
company of their exterior building materials businesses highly valued
from customers, suppliers, and employees.
This will be achieved through combining Kubota's and Matsushita
Denko's strengths in their business resources including employees and
technologies, and thereby improving management efficiency and
productivity, and creating new value by developments of new products
and technologies.
1. Both Kubota and Matsushita Denko will integrate their business
operations of roofing materials and siding materials including
manufacturing, sales, research and development and administration, and
jointly establish the new company on December 1, 2003.
2. Both companies will equally hold 50% ownership share respectively
in the new company.
3. Regarding the method of the business integration, Kubota will
divide its business of roofing materials and siding materials, and
Matsushita Denko will divide its sales and research and development
operations related to roofing and siding materials within the division
company of building products>>
WINDOWS:
Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
Copyright 2004 Business Daily Update
Business Daily Update
March 10, 2004
SECTION: 01
LENGTH: 118 words
HEADLINE: GUANGDONG FOSHAN HOSTS METAL BUILDING MATERIALS FAIR
<<Author: A fair showcasing new types of metal construction materials
opened in Nanhai on February 28. It is jointly organized by the China
Construction Metal Structure Association and Foshan's Nanhai district
government in the Pearl River Delta of South China's Guangdong
Province. And the event ends on March 1. Highlighted at the fair are
aluminium windows and gates as well as curtain walls. Businesses from
China as well as those from Germany, the United States, Italy and
Japan are showing off their latest technologies and products. The
local government of Nanhai expects the event will help further build
up Nanhai's reputation as China's only national aluminium profile
industry base.>>
METAL BUILDING FIXTURES:
Good Marketing Report!
Japan External Trade Organization
http://www.jetro.go.jp/ec/e/market/jmr/002/index.html
SUPPLIER SITES AND GENERAL BUILDING MATERIAL INFO:
These are various supplier sites for the items you expressed an
interest in as well as a few other types of suppliers such as
furniture and import/export goods. Many of these also include
extensive product lists and an explanation of materials used as well
as links to other websites and product manufactuers:
http://www.maruhon.com/bizsummary.htm
http://www.made-in-china.com/products/show/freemember/com/zUxNTY0M/mic/Nakahara.html
http://www.gadelius.com/gkk/e/products/building/index.shtml
http://www.toho-leo.co.jp/english.html
http://www.northwood.co.jp/gaiyo-e.htm
From japantoday.com
A business directory for:
Interior Design Firms
http://directory.japantoday.com/biz.asp?action=home&pid=208
Architects and landscapers
http://directory.japantoday.com/biz.asp?action=home&pid=111
http://www.bcj.or.jp/src/soug-e01.html
The Building Center of Japan Foundation
"The Building Center of Japan (BCJ) was established in 1965 under the
auspices of the Ministry of Construction in order to carry out various
research projects in the building construction field, evaluate newly
developed technologies and provide this information to the public.
Since its establishment, the BCJ has taken an active role in promoting
and technically evaluating numerous technological advances pertaining
to construction methods and materials,with the development of
super-high-rise buildings and dome structures of membrane construction
as just a few examples."
The Planshouse Suppliers Guide
http://www.planshouse.com/dir/Regional/Asia/Japan/Business_and_Economy/News/index.shtml
A multitude of websites on Japanese economy, technology, business
etiquette and negotiation techniques, financial and accounting data,
recession problems, consumer news and others -an excellent site for
lots of tidbits on Japan.
http://www.softwood.org/reports/NAHB2000.PDF
The AICBH homepage with lots of information on building and housing:
http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~aicbh/index_e.htm
From the Renewable Energy Policy Project 1999
An article on Eco-building materials in Japan with lots of charts,
graphs and material data.
http://bme.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/bmd/papers/bmd_material_environment/EASEC9_Paper.pdf
A website on Japanese Architecture from a historical perspective:
http://www.kippo.or.jp/culture/build/history_e.htm
Another website about Japanese Architecture from a historical and
modern perspective:
http://www.csuohio.edu/history/japan/japan16.html
The Japan Country Commercial Guide
http://www.mac.doc.gov/tcc/data/commerce_html/countries/Countries2/Japan/CountryCommercial/2000/
"This Country Commercial Guide (CCG) presents a comprehensive look at
Japan's commercial environment, using economic, political and market
analysis. The CCGs were established by recommendation of the Trade
Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), a multi-agency task force, to
consolidate various reporting documents prepared for the U.S. business
community. Country Commercial Guides are prepared annually at U.S.
Embassies through the combined efforts of several U.S. Government
agencies."
From globalwood.org
http://www.globalwood.org/news/b080303.htm
Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
Copyright 2004 Business Daily Update
Business Daily Update
February 12, 2004
SECTION: 12
LENGTH: 89 words
HEADLINE: FOSHAN TO HOLD NEW BUILDING MATERIALS EXHIBITION
<<The China Construction Metal Structure Association and Foshan's
Nanhai district government will jointly organize an exhibition to
showcase new types of metal building materials in Foshan later this
month. The event, set from February 28 to March 1, will highlight
products related to aluminium windows and curtain walls. Suppliers and
associations nationwide as well as those from abroad including
ventures from Germany, the United States, Italy and Japan will show
off their latest products, technologies and designs.>>
On bamboo:
The Western Mail
January 31, 2004
<<Anyone who remains to be convinced about the value of bamboo need
only watch that television survival series in which the presenter is
forever extolling its usefulness for lighting fires, although where
that man goes he might be safer with the franchise for England's Glory
or lighter fuel.
Bamboo is the world's most important building material, growing from
the most northern tip of Japan to the south of Chile, from sea level
to 13,000ft, from very cold areas to the tropics.
Given the plant's widespread distribution, it is surprising bamboo
took until towards the end of the last century before there was a
surge of interest in Britain.>>
The Nikkei Weekly (Japan)
December 29, 2003
LENGTH: 472 words
HEADLINE: Analysts cautiously upbeat on consolidation effects
HIGHLIGHT:
Some express support for clarifying group ties; others query bottom line
<<Analysts are positive about Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.'s
decision to make Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. a consolidated
subsidiary, in a bid to enhance the corporate value of the Matsushita
group by reinforcing the consumer electronics giant's management
control over the maker of building materials and lighting equipment.
At the same time, however, many analysts are cautious about whether
the deal will generate synergy, as the two Matsushita firms have yet
to come up with specific measures to cope with pending problems such
as their overlapping operations.
HSBC Securities (Japan) Ltd. analyst Hideki Watanabe said that the
deal will clarify the relationship between Matsushita Electric
Industrial and Matsushita Electric Works, which has been rather vague
to date.
Watanabe believes Matsushita Electric Industrial will have a greater
say on the management of Matsushita Electric Works, in order to take
advantage of newly available products, such as housing equipment, by
adding the latter to its group of consolidated subsidiaries.
The conversion of Matsushita Electric Works into a subsidiary will
surely raise Matsushita Electric Industrial's consolidated earnings
results.
Matsushita Electric Works posted an estimated group net profit of 20
billion yen in the business year that ended in November. By raising
its equity stake in the company to 51% from the current 31.8%,
Matsushita Electric Industrial can add some 4 billion yen to its net
profit and raise its per-share net profit by 1.6 yen.>>
Jiji Press Ticker Service
October 16, 2003, Thursday
LENGTH: 164 words
HEADLINE: U.S. to Investigate Japan's Building Material Standards
<<The U.S. government will investigate whether Japan's new standards
for the use of formaldehyde in building materials do not violate
global trade rules.
In a report submitted to the congress Tuesday, the Commerce Department
said it will continue to investigate textile market access and
compliance cases to determine eight countries' conformance with World
Trade Organization rules.
Japan is the only industrialized nation among the eight, which also
include China, Indonesia and Egypt.
A textile compliance team is working closely with industry to assess
the effects of Japan's new standards for the use of formaldehyde in
building materials, including wall coverings, on U.S. exports, the
report said.
The task force is also working to ensure that the standards are in
compliance with Japan's international trade obligations, it said.
The Japanese government in March set new standards for the use of 45
building materials in an effort to combat sick house syndrome.>>
AFX - Asia
August 5, 2003 Tuesday
SECTION: COMPANY NEWS
LENGTH: 81 words
HEADLINE: Matsushita Electric Works, Kubota to form building materials jv
<<Matsushita Electric Workd Ltd and Kobota Corp said the companies
have reached a basic agreement to form a 50:50 joint venture by
merging their building material operations as of Dec 1, 2003.
The companies said the move will strengthen production of their
building material operations. The two firms will also jointly develop
new products.>>
Vietnam News Briefs
September 11, 2003
LENGTH: 247 words
HEADLINE: TRADE: HCM CITY TO HOST LARGEST CONSTRUCTION EXHIBITION
<<The largest international construction exhibition, Viet Build 2003,
is set to begin tomorrow at the Ho Chi Minh City International Trade
Fair & Exhibition Center in the city's Tan Binh District.
The five-day event will comprise the introduction and sales of
building materials, conferences, and construction consulting and
exchanging.
With 630 stands, the exhibition will attract the participation of many
domestic and foreign companies, including those from Britain, France,
Germany, Japan, the US, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea
and Indonesia.
"This will be a major opportunity for Vietnamese companies to boost
cooperation with foreign partners and to promote the sale of their
products," said an organizer.
The products to be displayed at the exhibition will include
construction machinery, scaffolding, tiles, bricks, cement, steel,
roofing, paints, interior and exterior decorations, lighting equipment
and models of houses.
Viet Build 2003 will also comprise two conference, including the "New
Products and New Technologies of Construction Industry" of the
Ministry of Construction and the "Massonite Doors after One Year in
Vietnam" of the Hoa Binh Co.
The exhibition is sponsored by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of
Construction, the Vietnam Architecture Association, the Ho Chi Minh
City Architecture Association and the Ho Chi Minh City Association of
Construction & Building Material.>>
Washington State Housing and Building Materials for Japan
http://www.oted.wa.gov/trade/jpn_housing/
Japan External Trade Organization
http://www.jetro.go.jp/
Japan Housing and Building Materials Newspaper
http://www.ep.org/us_japannews_directory.htm
PDF paper about Eco-construction in Japan
bme.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/bmd/papers/bmd_material_environment/ EASEC9_Paper.pdf
Trade Leads (Japan)
http://www.skali.com/index.php?ch=13&pg=248
Study on the Indigenous Building Materials of Traditional Houses in Myanmar
http://www.aij.or.jp/eng/jaabe/303806.htm
Business Patrol.com
http://www.businesspatrol.com/directory/results_dir.php3?type=sec&cat_full=Construction%20and%20Building%20Materials
Japan Building Materials Expo
http://www.jma.or.jp/TF/e/emc/
Product Category List
http://www.gen.gr.jp/cgi-bin/gen.pl?type=no&val=1500\
TITLE JAPAN EXPORT SEMINAR DURING THE NAHB INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS ...
www.softwood.org/reports/NAHB2000.PDF
BFRL Publications - building materials
http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/bfrlall/key/key365.html
Japanese Progress and Overview of Building Material Performance and Testing
http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/fire00/art122.html
Google Search Terms Used
japan "construction market"
japan "building materials"
and
narrowed search terms
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=japan+%22building+materials%22
and
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